Vacuum-cleaner.



E. L. PAHRBAUH. VACUUM CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 191a.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. L. FAHRBAGH. VACUUM CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 191a.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses EDWARD LOUIS FAHRBACH. OI BUFFALO. NEW YORK.

VACUUM-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed June 4, 1813. Serial No. 771,895.

T '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD LOUIS F AHR- excu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum cleaning machines and has particular application to a street sweeping machine of the vacuum type.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a vacuum cleaning machine which will be found especially useful in removing the dirt and refuse from road surfaces and which will embody among other features a refuse box, a brush engaging the surface to be cleaned and operating to throw the refuse into the box, and a plurality of bellows communicatmg with the box and operable successively so that a constant suction will be produced in the dust box with the effect to throw the dirt and refuse into the box continuously in the operation of the machine.

It is also my purpose to provide a street cleaning machine of the vacuum type wherein the brush may readily accommodate itself to any inequalities in the roadway and which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, eiliciency and durability coupled with cheapness of cost in manufacture and maintenance.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim. 7

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a street cleaning machine constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the machine. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing one of the brush supports.

In the accompanying drawings, I have a wheeled vehicle comprising, in the present instance, a frame formed of side bars 1, 1 suitably spaced apart in parallelism and end bars 2, 2 connecting the side bars. Suitably secured to the bars 1' adjacent to one end of the machine is the forward axle 3 carrying the forward or steering wheels 4,

the opposite end of the side bars being eqpipped with suitable alining hearings in w 10b 15 journaled the rear axle 5 carryin at its 0 posite end the rear ground w eels 6, 6. ounted upon this frame and appropriately fastened thereto is a dirt or refuse box 7 constructed of any suitable material and of any desired outline and having the bottom wall thereof formed. with a transverse slot, the opposite end walls of the box 7 at the extremities of the slot therein carrying depending hearings in which is journaled a shaft 8 carrying a sweeper or brush 9 and equipped at one end with a sprocket wheel 10 over which is trained an endless sprocket chain 11 driven from a sprocket wheel 12 connected in driving engagement with the rear axle or one of the rear wheels as the case may be so that in the travel of the machine rotary motion will be imparted to the shaft 8 to rotate the sweeper 9.

Partially inclosing the brush or sweeper and extending into the refuse box are flexible shields 13, 13 composed of leather or the like and having the lower ends 13 thereof bent outwardly of the brush and formed with eyes 13 designed to receive hooks 13 depending from the bottom of the refuse box. The under surfaces of the outwardly bent portions of the shields are in contact with the surface of the roadway and act to prevent the escape of dust in the operation of the machine. 13 are fastened in some suitable manner to the opposite side walls of the slot and if necessary may have the opposite end edges thereof within the refuse box secured to the opposite side walls of such box. In the present instance, the bearings of the brush or sweeper shaft are mounted in arcua'te shaped slotted guide ways '14- asillustrated in Fig. 5 so that the brush will engage the surface of the roadway under the action of gravity and are capable of moving relatively to the roadwa so as to compensate for any inequalities in the latter.

The shields- In order to produce a suction in the refuse I box or receptacle so that the dirt loosened by the brush will be drawn into the receptacle, I employ a series of bellows 15 of any suitable construction and disposed upon the top of the refuse box longitudinally thereof. Each bellows has communication with the refuse box at the rear end of the latter through the medium of a flap valve 16,

while the rear axle of the machine is provided with cranks 17, connected to the bellows by means of connecting rods 18, the cranks 17 being disposed in such angular relation that the bellows act successively so that a continuous suction is produced in the refuse box.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent.

Assuming the machine to be traveling over the roadwa under any desired power, the brush 9 wil revolve and so loosen the dirt and refuse which latter will be drawn into the refuse box under the action of the bellows 15.

\Vhile I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I desire to have it understood t'iat I do not limit or confine myself the surface being cleaned, flexible shields partially inclosing said brush and projecting into said refuse box and contacting with the surface to be cleaned, and a plurality of bellows communioatin with said box and operable successively w ereby the refuse will be drawn into said box continuously.

In testimony whereof I afiix my'signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD LOUIS FAHRBACI-I.

Witnesses:

MABEL M. FAHRBACH- Gno. F. HERRMANN 

